Cyrus A. Ansary

Cyrus A. Ansary (born 1934)[1] is an American lawyer and philanthropist.

Early life and education

Ansary, an Iranian American, was born in Tehran, Iran and is the brother of Hushang Ansary.[2] He visited the Mt. Vernon, New York in 1950 while attending Alborz High School.[1] Ansary later earned a BS in Economics from American University, a law degree from Columbia and a Certificate in French Civilization from the University of Paris. He served in the US Marines.[3]

Career

Ansary is president of Investment Services International Co. and the founder and current chairman of Fort Knox National Company. He practiced law in the firm of Ansary, Kirkpatrick & Rosse and was chairman of the board of JPMorgan Value Opportunities Fund, Inc. He was affiliated with Washington Mutual Investors Fund, Inc. from 1983[3] and served on the boards of First American Bank of Maryland,[4] Krupp GmbH, Deutsche Babcock and Wilcox.[3]

Ansary serves as chairman emeritus of American University and was board chair from 1981 to 1989. He is a member of the Woodrow Wilson Council for Scholars and the Life Guard Society of Mount Vernon.[3]

Awards in Ansary name

Since 1990, the Cyrus Ansary Medal has been awarded annually and is one of the highest volunteer awards given by American University. Recipients include alums, "trustees, volunteers, and community leaders who set high standards for achievement and serve as role models to American University's students and alumni". Recent recipients include J. Willard Marriott Jr.,[5] Alan L. Meltzer,[6] Kermit A. Washington[5] and Hani M. S. Farsi.[7]

In March 2014, Mount Vernon awarded its first Cyrus A. Ansary Prize for Courage and Character to former president George H. W. Bush.[8] The prize was established in 2012 by Cyrus A. and Janet H. Ansary and, in 2014, came with $75,000 in unrestricted and Mt. Vernon-related monies.[9]

Personal life

Ansary is brother to Hushang Ansary and uncle to Nina Ansary.

References
  1. Argus, Staff Reporter (January 12, 1950). "Iran Student 3-day Guest of Public Schools in City" (PDF). The Daily Argus, Mt. Vernon, NY. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. Bill, James A. (1988). The eagle and the lion : the tragedy of American-Iranian relations. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 374. ISBN 9780300044126. Retrieved 13 May 2015. CYRUS ANSARY.
  3. "Executive Profile: Cyrus A. Ansary", Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  4. "First American Bank of Maryland in Silver Spring, Maryland (MD)", bankencyclopedia.com. No reference to directors. Gives FDIC Certificate #: 16507; Status: Inactive; Closing history: Merger - Without Assistance; Acquiring institution: First Union National Bank of Maryland Archived 2015-02-02 at the Wayback Machine (#18024); Federal Reserve ID: 325020; Date Established: November 18, 1946; Last Structure Change Effective Date: October 27, 1993; amongst other information; and financial statements for fiscal year 1992. See also First Union as successor. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  5. "Cryus Ansary Award", american.edu. Web page lists twelve award recipients for period 1990-2009 inclusive; not an award every year. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  6. "Former Wrestler Alan Meltzer Honored by American University with Cyrus Ansary Medal", AUEagles.com, October 31, 2006. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  7. "Hani M. S. Farsi: American University Cyrus A. Ansary Medal 2012", vimeo.com from American University, November 2, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  8. Baker, Peter, "Bush 41 Reunion Looks to Burnish His Legacy", New York Times, April 3, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  9. "Former U.S. President Honored with Ansary Prize" Archived 2014-06-02 at the Wayback Machine, Mt. Vernon web page. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
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